The Falkland Islands do not face a “current credible military threat” from
Argentina, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said.

Philip Hammond said there was no need to increase the British military deployment to the islands despite an increase in tensions between Britain and Argentina.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict and concerns have risen over the increasingly hostile rhetoric emerging from Argentine politicians.

Mr Hammond stressed that Britain had “no desire or intention to increase the heat” surrounding the issue.

“Despite media speculation to the contrary, there has been no recent change to force levels,” he told the Commons. “There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands and therefore no current plan for significant changes to force deployments.

“However, Her Majesty’s Government is committed to defending the right of the Falkland islanders to self-determination and plans exist for rapid reinforcement of the land, sea and air forces in and around the islands, should any such threat appear.”

Mr Hammond added that the Government was “quite confident” that it had sufficient naval assets in the area and the ability to reinforce those assets “should there be any evidence of intent to any form of attack”.

Edward Leigh, a senior Tory MP, raised concerns over the lack of a British aircraft carrier to defend the Falkland Islands in the event of a conflict. Questioning the wisdom behind the decision to scrap the carrier programme last year, he asked: “Whatever the costs of the carriers, is not a key argument in their favour that if, God forbid, despite all our preparations, the Falklands were taken in a surprise attack, it would be essential to have a carrier to regain them?”

Mr Leigh’s comments echo concerns expressed by the former head of the Royal Navy in an interview last week.

Lord West said Britain would not be able to retake the Falklands if Argentina invaded again. “This is why the defence is so crucial because we are now unable to retake them,” he said. “If you’re 8,000 miles away from your nearest friendly airbase you’ve got to have aircraft carriers — and we haven’t.”

Peter Luff, the defence minister, was unconcerned at the lack of carriers. “The Falklands are well protected,” he said. “We live in a different world, so I think the suggestion that aircraft carriers would play an important part in the near future in the Falkland Islands is an unhelpful one.”

Last month, David Cameron disclosed that the National Security Council had met to discuss plans to defend the Falkland Islands. He accused the Argentines of behaving in a “colonialist” manner — comments that provoked a furious response in Buenos Aires. Last week, Sean Penn, the Hollywood actor, appeared with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to criticise British actions.

Argentina has called on Britain to negotiate the sovereignty of the remote South Atlantic archipelago it calls the Malvinas and has asked the United Nations to intervene. Britain has maintained a military presence since liberating the islands in 1982.

David Willetts, the universities minister, visited the Falklands last week and a delegation of MPs is expected to travel to the remote islands later this year.

However, there are not thought to be any current plans for senior ministers to visit.